The Mission Ranch Resort, Carmel-by-The-Sea

Just got home from two fabulous nights at the Mission Ranch! My mom and I had been there many times before, but this was our first time staying there. We decided to splurge for my Mother's Birthday (our room was $278 per night). We stayed in one of the rooms in the Meadowview Complex. It was quaint, comfortable with a fantastic view of the sheep pasture and ocean. Ocean is a ways off...wish it was a little closer. Enjoyed a fabulous night on the restaurant patio, and then came inside the restaurant for dinner. The prime rib was the best I have ever had! All of us at our table were raving about how delicious it was. We then were able to get seats at the piano, and listened to great singers for the next couple of hours. THEN, Clint Eastwood and Bill Murray walked in and joined the party! Both of them were very nice, and Clint even shook my Mom's hand, and wished her a happy birthday. The rooms are not "5 star" as some of the reviewers noted below, but c'mon people! ...this is a RANCH, it's not the Ritz! They are comfortable, quaint rooms with spectacular views, and were everything we expected them to be. We will be back many, many times to come. I miss it already!!!

After stopping off there several times to admire it, I finally got to stay there, and had a wonderful time! I had one of the small rooms upstairs in the Farmhouse, and was very impressed with how cleverly and charmingly it had been redone. The staff was very polite and helpful (almost unheard of these days), the vegetarian food was really good, and the piano bar was a lot of fun. The grounds are beautifully maintained and everything about the place is very relaxing. And of course, the views and ambience can't be beat! Thank you, Clint, for setting up such a wonderful place for us all to enjoy!

Mission Ranch is rated a 3 star hotel, like many of the inns and lodges in the area, and it is deserving of this rating. But the price is a bit out of line for this class of lodging. I went to Mission Ranch based on the many wonderful reviews I read here, but found reality to be quite a bit different. I stayed in one of the Meadowview Fourplex rooms. I paid $250 for the room ($277.25 with tax). It had a king bed, a small TV, a fireplace, a bathtub jacuzzi, and a deck with 2 wooden rocking chairs and a view to the meadow where sheeps on the rach graze. It was very stuffy and I had to leave the sliding door that lead to the deck open to get some fresh air into the room. The sheets smelled very stale, as if it hadn't been laundered in awhile. Everything in the room was dated and a little dilapidated, including rusting fixtures, worn and dusty carpets, rusting rails on the deck, locks that do not work on the sliding deck door, somewhat lumpy bed, etc. The walls and doors do not keep noise out very well, as we could hear our neighbor fairly clearly in the morning as they were getting ready in their room and walking around on the common porch. The deck was small but fine. Sitting in the rocking chair at night while listening to the faroff ocean waves and the frogs/insects, and looking at the night sky was very pleasant. The only problem was that I also had a view to the the restaurant, and vice versa, so not much privacy there unless you turn off your lights. The meadow is nice to look at. But in the morning, the sheep that are "released" onto it woke me up. They make a sound that is very similar to the vibrating noise from my cell phone. The staff are not friendly or particularly helpful, but nor are they rude. The housekeeper in the moning parked her golf cart behind my car, partially blocking my path out. She was standing on the porch looking my way while I was trying to back out. She didn't volunteer to move her cart, but I also didn't ask her to. The lady in the office didn't give me a receipt, until I asked for one. Just lapses in commonsense service that you'd normally expect and get from most places, even Motel 6. That just about sums up this place. I would say that what you're really paying for here is to help Mission Ranch / Mr. Eastwood keep and preserve their scenic and beautiful land and keep it away from developer's hands - a worthwhile thing to do in my opinion. But if you think you're paying for superior accommodations, you'll be disappointed.

More than a dozen stays over the years. The beautiful spot can compare with anything worldwide. Restaurant very comfortable and food is good. The rooms were quite nice but are showing considerable wear. And staff is only fair. Some attention to training needed. Still we hope for many more stays.

Location, views, accommodations, and most of all the restaurant on the deck. Food and drinks are great too. The entertainment could use a little improvement but is O.K. Always our first choice when visiting the area.

We stayed in one of the cottages facing the sheep pasture. Sitting on the porch, wrapped in a quilt and sitting in a rocker reading a book was one of the best and most relaxing vacation experiences I've ever had. The property is comfortable without being stuffy. We especially loved the fireplace in the bedroom. Dinner at the restaurant was fabulous! We actually saw Clint! Local restaurants were fantastic, the beaches were wonderful and shopping in Carmel was a blast! What a great experience! We'll be back!

I did not stay at the hotel but had a great Thanksgiving dinner at the restaurant. I would highly recommend it. The view is ok - mostly a field but you can see part of a beach and the ocean. But the food and the restaurant ambiance are very good.

I like the place. It's quiet and relaxing. Plus it has the natural atmostphere so that we can escape from our hectic daily routine in the big city.

We stayed in the Bunk house. 3 people. It was a beautiful peaceful place. I loved that on property Clint Eastwood had a prop from every movie he was in. From the truck in Bridges of Madison to a wagon from "Paint Your Wagon. The piano in the restaurant was from my all time FAVORITE Movie, "Honkytonk Man" I have the soundtrack from that movie! The grounds were well kept and the flowers were lovely. We will be back!!! The Smiths, Louisville Kentucky

I don't suppose that Clint gave a Sh!t about any "big tip" from you. If you were out of line then I would not have seated your group either. This man and his place are both class acts. You can feel fortunate to have gotten the experience in the first place. Listen to a great musician bang on that piano? What a treat it would be. I would join in the fun if I got the opportunity. Good Job Clint on the MDB soundtrack. Love it and it's most relaxing/soothing. I'll ask you to play it for me and my girl sometime if you feel like it - if you happen to be there. Missed you last time and wished I had not. Keep playing on my friend...keep playing on... Scott Pierce